Improvement in hames



` leathern coupling-strap.

UNITED STATES lPATENT OEErcE.,

JAMES THORNTON, OF WELLSVILLE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH HIS RIGHT TO PRATT& LETGHWORTH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,929, dated July 14,1874 application filed March 21, 1874.

To all whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, JAMES THORNTON, of vellsville, county of Allegany andState of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Haines, ofwhich the following is a specication My improvement relates generally tothat class of haines in which the leathern strap that secures the upperends of the hames together passes through metallic loops, which arearranged around the hames and made adjustable vertically thereon, insuch a manner that the coupling-strap will lie in a horizontal plane,and the hames be capable of ready adjustment to collars of differentsizes. Theinvention relates more particularly to the special means forrendering these loops adjustable on the hames.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is anedge view. Fig. 3 is a cross-section with the loop adjusted and securedin place, and Fig. 4 a similar crosssection with the loop released andin the position for being adjusted. Figs. 5 and 6 represent a modifiedmode of securing the studs to the sides of the llames. Fig. 7 representsthe manner of connecting the loops to hames having curved sides.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in each of the gures.

A represents the lupper portion of a hame, B, the loop arranged on thehame, and C the d cl are a series of studs or pins, arranged in a row,so as to project from one or both sides of the hame. The one or both ofthe inner sides of the loop are formed with a notch or recess, b,arranged so that when the coupling-strap is engaged with the loop, thenotches cannot be made to coincide with the studs cl, Fig. 3, but whichcan, on the disconnection of the coupling-strap,be brought inline of thestuds, Fig. 4, so as to permit the loop to be adjusted higher or loweron the hame--the studs projecting in the notches as the loop passes overthem while being adjusted. The loop being arranged in its properposition and the couplin g-strap engaged therewith, the loop will beheld in place vertically by the two studs or pins between which it isadjusted.

My improvement, although simple in its character, becomes, from thatfact, of importance in a class of articles of this kind, where cheapnessof construction and neatness in ap` pearance become the testof itspracticability, considered in a commercial sense. My improvementpossesses, however, another radvantage. By arranging the line of studsat a uniform distance from the inner edge of the hame, the loop is heldin place equally well on a hame that is made to taper considerablytoward the top as on one of uniform'width, which is not the case withother devices of the kind with which I am acquainted.

Instead of securing the pieces d in the body of the hame, as shown inFigs. l and 4, they may be cast with a metallic plate 0r bar, which issecured to the side of the hame, or the said base-plate may be providedwith a projecting rib, having notches d1, corresponding with the spacesbetween the studs d, as shown in Figs.`

5 and 6. In haines with rounded or concave sides, notches cl2 maybe cuttherein, as shown in' Fig. 7, so that when the loop is engaged, itsstraight portions will enter into the :notches of the haine and retainit in place.

What I claim as my invention is The combination, with a hame providedwith a row or series ot' studs, d, of the loop B, provided with a notch,b, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

JAMES THORNTON.

Witnesses:

J. J. BONNER, ERNsT HoDDroK.

